Puerto Rico: Day 1

Hey Lovelies!

I made it.  After a day of travel and goodbyes, I finally made it.  It was a great flight filled with many laughs and fun times.  Focusing on the positive parts of life has become something that I am mindful of and continues to be something easier and easier.  The only thing on my mind recently has been my lack of exercise... oops.

I was super excited in the morning and couldn't wait to get on the plane and go to my little island.

On my way to the airport, my army bag was almost as big as my body. {to be honest, it looked kinda funny}

At the airport we visited the Food Network Kitchen.  This was definitely some of the best airport food stops I have ever had.  The croissant was spectacular! 

Waiting to board the airplane, the weather was so beautiful outside.

All ready to go!  My girls and I took a picture right before the plane left, just for memories.

The view from the plane was amazing to say the least.

'

Unfortunately the weather was not as pleasant in Puerto Rico when we got there, but it was still super exciting to be back after two years,

The greenery around my house in Puerto Rico is just stunning and reminded me of how happy it is finally be home and feel like I belong.  

Can't forget about Malta!  This is a typical Puerto Rican drink.  It doesn't appeal to many outsiders but I absolutely love indulging in one of these. :D

My trip so far has not been very eventful, but it will in the future.  We're still getting settled and tomorrow won't be very eventful either, but we are planning things for the future.

xoxo, Ana

Puerto Rico: Day 0

Hello Lovelies!

Yesterday was packing day and the first day recorded for my Puerto Rico (PR) trip.  I have decided to make a blogpost recording every day of my trip to PR.  There won't be post every single day because I may not have time to write on a daily basis, but I will record every day.

The pictures I take are from Snapchat and will include a time stamp so that you guys can get a feel for what it is like to go by each day with me.  

The journey begins the day before departure: Packing Day.

We started the day off by doing blood tests for the doctor and as a bonus for fasting until eleven in the morning, the family decided to go to Deny's for breakfast.

Later into the day I began packing for the flight.  It was kind of an all day process in which I had to get lots of things into a small space.  Packing is always difficult because you have to choose what's the best clothes for the occasion and often have to leave behind some of your favorite pieces.

I made a list of things I needed so that I wouldn't forget anything in my Bullet Journal.  It was kind of a difficult process and in the end I did have to cross out a lot of things that didn't fit or in the end weren't necessary.  I definitely suggest using a list because they're are a lot of things that you could forget last minute, even if you are an experienced traveler as I am.

I know this wasn't the most interesting of posts since it was the day before I depart, but I promise future posts will be filled with all the fun times I have.

Have a wonderful day! :D

xoxo, Ana

PS - I am currently in the airport and I feel so legit!!!  

Summer in Puerto Rico

Hello Lovelies!

This summer I have gotten the amazing opportunity to visit my beautiful island: Puerto Rico.

Honestly, I have been so home sick I took the opportunity without second guessing it.  I leave on Tuesday and have lots to do before then.  I am going to take this as my chance to really make a change for the better and fix myself to make the most of the upcoming school year.

Just thought I would share this because it makes me so happy to finally have this amazing news! I hope you all have been having a great summer.

xoxo, Ana

Bullet Journal

Hey Lovelies!

So I recently heard about this new fad on tumblr called a bullet journal.  Apparently the idea has been around for a long time but only recently began to pick up popularity throughout the studyblr community on tumblr,  There is a site dedicated by the maker of this idea.

The basic idea of this is to create a notebook of all of your to-do lists.  It uses a system of bullets and notes and has a lot of flexibility in terms of how you personally wish to do it.  You can use whatever journal you desire: big, small, lined, unlined, horizontal, vertical, with doodles, without doodles, the possibilities are endless.

I began using this at the end of the school year, then stopped when I went to camp and have recently gotten back into using this method of organization.

This is an old pricture, but the concept remains the same.  I love it and love the creativity and versatiltiy it has.  It is something different that I am trying out and I am super happy with how it is turning out.  

Let me know in the comments below what you think about the bullet journal.  Ill keep you guys updated on how it goes. 

xoxo, Ana

New Desk Layout

Hey Lovelies!

So as you know from my last post my life has been in for quite a bit of change.  I am trying really hard to be a more positive person and lead a happy life filled with the things I love most.

My personal space and haven has always been my desk and incorporating that into my new self was very important for me.  So after I came back from my five day summer camp I took all of my belongings from clothing to my desk and removed anything that didn't suit me anymore.  I also added some things that would be part of my journey away from depression.

I love that I get to use more white space and incorporate areas of my life that I had left behind.  My board has the quote: "stay humble/work hard/be kind."  The lamp remained the same and I did add a yellow bow.  My top shelf is super simple it just has my paper quilling frame, some small trinkets, and my trophy on the far right.  The left shelves just have books, my bible, and small things.  I also am really fond of the mason jar that I use to store some pens and even flower pens.

If you are like me, your desk is like a small piece of you.  I am so glad with how it turned out, it has no clutter and just exemplifies how I want my life to go and makes me happy.

Let me know what you think in the comments below!

xoxo. Ana

PS - I am feeling so much better after talking to my family and working super hard to remain positive and happy! :D

C. H. A. N. G. E.

Hello Lovelies!

I just wanted to update you guys on my absence throughout the month of May.  I did not anticipate this to happen and I most certainly did not expect it to go on this long.

To be honest, my blog is my happy place.  It is my space to be the real me, the classy, intelligent, fashionable, healthy, amazing, gorgeous person that I see when I look in the mirror.

But I was just not happy.

The sadness honestly overwhelmed my life and I felt like I had to fake it to the world that I was okay and I felt forced to act like my life was just as it was before.  I refused to put up a fake version of myself on my blog because it is my safe haven.  Life isn't always perfect and I don't want to act as if mine is.

So, tonight at 1:30 am I am making the decision to change.

I no longer can stand laying in bed all day feeling sorry for myself, regretting all of my mistakes.  I want to change and my blog is where I am going to start because this is where I feel most comfortable and vulnerable.  I am going to be the person I desire so much to be.  I am going to be happy.

xoxo, Ana

Collage Obsession

Hey Lovelies!

So a lot of you know that I am a generally very creative person. Recently, I have been out of motivation and that really has put a downer on my mood and overall stability.  One of my favorite ways to really get my motivation up there and remind me of my priorities on a constant basis has been collages.

Collages are basically just a mishmash of pictures or quotes or things that make you happy and motivate you towards a goal.  Mine are mostly school, fitness, and fashion oriented but the can made for anything.

Some tips on making cool collages:
1. Pick out a color scheme for each collage.
2. Have a central theme.
3. Be creative.

This is a super fun project to get yourself into the correct mindset for whatever goal you have.  I would suggest to put your collage somewhere you will constantly see it so that it can be a constant reminder for you.  Here are some examples of my collages!

Computer Background

Binder Cover

Binder Cover

Planner Cover

Planner Cover

Phone Wallpaper

I made the majority of my collages using pictures that printed from the internet and pasting them together on either a piece of paper or onto the material it needed to be on.  As for the phone wallpaper I just used a picture editing app that you can download from the application store and customize to create your own wallpaper.  The computer background was make using picmonkey.

I think this is a great way to let out your creativity shine and personalize a vast amount of items.  Let me know if you try out collaging anything!

xoxo, Ana

New Social Media!

Hey Lovelies!

I hope you have all been having a wonderful time recently.  I love being able to post consistently and it makes me happy to see my hard work paying off.

If you didn't know I have other social media that you can follow me on and is linked to my blog.  I will have them posted here and soon they will be part of my blog when I redesign it for summer.  Follow me to learn more about my life!

Twitter: @anamvalentin
Pinterest:  @anamvalentin
Tumblr:  @anamvalentin

{If you didn't realize, my usernames are very creative ;D}

Leave your social media links below so we can be internet buddies!  Have a wonderful day!

xoxo, Ana

Classy and Sassy: Looking {and Feeling} Your Age

Hello Lovelies!

So recently I have noticed an increase in the amount of young girls that feel the need to look extremely old or like celebrities or exposing themselves.  I'm here to advise all of you on how to look and feel your age without having to compromise socially.

It is difficult in this day and age with social media and the different social interactions among teens to not want to fit in.  We see all of the celebrities wearing tons of makeup, done up nails, hair is perfect, and clothing that exposes half of their body and we all wish to look like them. We all want to be seen as beautiful in the eyes of the general public.

I walk down the halls at school and see girls two years younger than me that look like they're almost 20!  Mind you, I am short and have generally young features so I don't necessarily look my age physically and I have had to learn to accept that.  But these little girls don't feel comfortable without makeup, they feels the need to expose their body, and they feel like if they don't look perfect they can't leave the house.  That is so wrong.

You don't have to compromise your individuality to fit in.

I'm not saying to stop wearing makeup and doing your hair, but I think that you have to feel comfortable being exposed in your raw, pure form.  So I encourage you to take at least two to three days a week in which you don't wear makeup, don't do your hair, just be yourself.  People who judge you are probably not the best influences.

A lot of people tell me that I don't look like someone that likes fashion and beauty and fitness when they see me in school.  I go to school looking rough most days but some days I do decide to look like a normal human, and I am okay with that.  I'm comfortable changing up my hair, in fact I came to school one day last year with more than half my hair cut off and I didn't care.

Don't be afraid of looking and feeling your age.  Many people think you have to do things that aren't appropriate for their age group just because of peer influences, but you don't.  Dare to be different.  Dare to be yourself.

xoxo, Ana

Sweet and Flirty

Hello Lovelies!

I have another spring look for you guys!  This is really one of my favorite girly, go-to looks for special events.

The simple floral dress has a 50s inspired feel to it with a sweetheart neckline and simple lace detailing as well as ruching on the top of the skirt.  The white shoes are the same Target wedge heels from my previous look.  And the same cardigan can also be worn with this outfit, although it looks fine without the cardigan as well.

I hope you're having a wonderful spring season!

xoxo, Ana